The Puget Sound Cruising Club often does a remote summer raft-up. Folks have met in Barkely Sound, Bywater Bay on the Hood Canal, Sitka, Ak and even Australia. This year we tried for a raft-up in the San Juan Islands at Garrison Bay, where the English had their camp in 1860.

We left on Thursday for the motor-sail to Port Townsend, and just off Shilshole spotted a famous wooden boat I had listed one time, then know as Flying Gull. I try to get shots of some of the big ships and boats we see on our travels. Check out container ship speed, and look out for the fishermen at Point No Point. We arrived in time to spot a classic Ingrid, with impressive new rigging, a Brion Toss project. A few other boats were preparing for the Wooden Boat Festival too.

Friday we left after the rain, but still in the mist, and saw Russell Brown's PT Watercraft, recognized from the 2018 R2AK. We rounded Pt. Wilson, and soon found sunshine, and motor-sailed for Lopez Island. I've heard about MacKaye Bay, but we had never stopped before. Next time we will anchor closer, as there were high wind warnings in the strait and we swung in the chop all night.

Saturday we went around the West side of San Juan Island, past Lime Kiln, through South Mosquito Pass and into Garrison Bay. Look it's Mikes big Wauquiez! He has been off cruising for at least 6 years! We had seven boats at the raft-up, and a couple more anchored out and dinghying over for visits. What a good group, lots of food and fun experiences. The dinner spread covered the coach house of Raven Dancer. It turned out to be Mike and Sheryl's wedding anniversary, so Natalie whipped up a super chocolate cake! Sunday we just hung out, visited and had another great potluck. Sweet sunset too!

We headed home on Monday, to make the trip back in 2 days. It was a bit of a current puzzle, but we found the ribbon South. and made it to Port Townsend in time to catch Adventuress preparing to enter Point Hudson Marina. What a difference between the local wooden boats and the slab steel hunks-argh. We carried on and anchored between the Hadlock Marina and Port Townsend Canal. Tuesday was simply magical, we were out with the current, under the bridge by 8:30 and put the sails up as we exited the canal. We sailed all the way home, with wind and current with us. Yea! What a treat! Thanks all!   (Click on a image below for a larger image "slide show" - arrow keys work well.)